青帝小说

第22部分（第4页）

smile　and　cool　demeanor　had　been　roped　off　until　further　notice。

Now　it　was　Friday；　the　night　of　the　Kiss　on　the　Lips　party。　And　the

question　she　couldn’t　answer：　to　go　or　not　to　go？

It　used　to　be；　before　fancy　parties　like　this；　Serena　and　her　friends

would　spend　half　the　night　getting　dressed　together—swilling　ginand…

tonics；　dancing　around　in　their　underwear；　trying　on　crazy

outfits。　But　tonight　Serena　rummaged　through　her　closet　alone。

There　was　the　pair　of　jeans　with　the　rip　in　the　leg　where　she’d

snagged　them　on　a　barbed…wire　fence　in　Ridgefield。　There　was　the

white　satin　dress　she’d　worn　to　the　Christmas　dance　in　ninth　grade。

Her　brother’s　old　leather　jacket。　Her　moldy　tennis　shoes　that　should

have　been　thrown　out　two　years　ago。　And　what　was　this？　A　red　wool

sweater—Nate’s。　Serena　held　it　to　her　face　and　smelled　it。　It

smelled　like　her；　not　him。

Toward　the　back　of　the　closet　was　a　black　velvet　flapper　dress　that

Serena　had　bought　with　Blair　at　a　vintage　store。　It　was　a　dress　to

wear　while　drinking　and　dancing　and　lounging　around　decoratively

in　a　huge　house　full　of　people　having　a　good　time。　It　reminded

Serena　of　the　good…time　gal　she’d　been　when　she　bought　the　dress

—her　old　self；　the　girl　she’d　been　up　until　two　weeks　ago。　She　let

her　robe　drop　to　the　floor　and　slipped　the　dress　on　over　her　head。

Maybe　it　would　give　her　back　some　of　her　power。

Barefoot；　she　padded　into　her　parents’　dressing　room；　where　they

were　getting　ready　for　their　own　black…tie　affair。

“What　do　you　think？”　Serena　asked；　doing　a　little　twirl　in　front　of

them。

“Oh；　Serena；　you’re　not　wearing　that。　Tell　me　you’re　not；”　her

mother　exclaimed；　fastening　a　long　rope　of　pearls　around　her　neck。

“What’s　wrong　with　it？”　Serena　said。

“It’s　an　old　ratty　thing；”　Mrs。　van　der　Woodsen　told　her。　“It’s　just　the

sort　of　dress　my　grandmother　was　buried　in。”

“What’s　wrong　with　one　of　those　outfits　you　bought　with　your

mother　last　weekend？”　Mr。　van　der　Woodsen　suggested。　“Didn’t　you

buy　anything　to　wear　to　the　party？”